MRI report -please help
 

I had the brain MRI , insurance denied my neck MRI, but this is from the report :

" within the incompletely imaged upper cervical spine there is multilevel spondylolisthesis in degenerative disc disease.T1 hypoattenuation of the marrow could reflect artifact or red marrow reconversion such as seen with anemia for example ". I don't have anemia, and it takes forever my neurologist to call me with the results ( it's been a week since the MRI ) !
I have neck pain for 2 months now, and the neck x ray showed cervical spondylosis.

This report may be what you need to get approval for the neck MRI.
Then they should be able to see how severe , if anything is being impinged and how much, and if there is any other factors that may be cause of pain.

could anybody explain what all this mean ? thanks

[the incompletely imaged upper cervical spine there is multilevel spondylolisthesis in degenerative disc disease.]

Your dr should be able to use this part of the information to prove that you need a full MRI.
Seems like his office should have followed up and requested the c spine MRI again , and saved you a visit til the c spine MRI results arrive.. But that's just my thinking..

Have you called the office and asked about it since spondylolisthesis/DDD is showing on the head MRI?
Why go for an office visit when this MRI shows more imaging is needed?

[ multilevel spondylolisthesis in degenerative disc disease.]
I can't tell much more from the info because it does not say if it is severe, moderate, mild , or if any nerves are being impinged or the cord affected..

I have no clue one the [hypoattenuation of the marrow could reflect artifact or red marrow reconversion]

Have you gotten any PT for pain relief/soft tissue etc?
Was there an injury that set the pain off?

Thank you for your answers !

Insurance wants me to have 6 weeks neck physical therapy first, and then reevaluate the need for neck MRI. I started the PT ( even that I'm afraid to have it before they know what's really going on in the neck ). I don't have to have office visit until I finish the PT, but it's been 8 days since the MRI and the dr. is not calling me back, and even if I call she won't call back until she wants to ( this is not the first time ).
No, there was no injury , I just woke up one morning 2 months ago and the pain was there.
What kind a dr. I should see for this issue ? ( neurologist ordered my MRI , because I saw her for headaches / lightheadeness )

Well a dr usually need to rx the PT , so they should specify what areas and why etc..

If you get a highly skilled PT they can also do evaluations to pinpoint what & where the pain/sx are coming from. If the dr hasn't done any hands on checking them they often pass that on for PT to do. and they usually have the head PT do the evals.
In the past for my RSI's, I did have a rookie looking in his book :eek:, so dr got me out of that place fast..

My dad has DDD with most discs gone luckily he has minor discomfort .

PT can also do ultrasound, stim and massage , which is best , to resolve some pain before they start with any stretching or weight/strengthening..

At any time if you feel much worse with PT tell dr so that is documented and a change of focus can be addressed

yes, PT did the evaluation the first time I went in ( a student PT actually with a supervising PT ) and then a third PT did a session of massage. The second time I went in a fourth PT did my neck massage and just a little neck stretching , and I was told to put moistured heat trough the day on my neck. I will see the next time I go in if it will be the same person ( on their website they are saying the same PT will work with you every time ?!) .
Today is not so painful, but I had that before, the pain is constant but not the same intensity.

I went to quite a few PT places with my RSI's over the years, and usually had the same person.
Try to find a place that has more gadgets- some places have more starting PTs , you might prefer a more advanced PT.

Various E stims are pretty nice as long as they don't turn it up too far..
most of the places I went to used heat , then ultrasound , then maybe some massage , E stim or IF stim..
chiro also had low level laser which was awesome... no PT places had it then , maybe they do now if you find them...